One of the most important forms of classical music is without a doubt the sonata. The meaning of the term “sonata”, which is derived from the Italian word “sonare” which means “to sound” or “to play”, has changed considerably over time. Browse our sheet music and scores, grab your all your favourites, and find out more about the sonata here today!
The term “sonata” derives from the second half of the 16th century, and refers to different types of instrumental compositions for two or more instruments. The term came about to distinguish the sonata from solo pieces for keyboard instruments, and from pieces with singing, such as cantatas.
The main difference between the baroque sonata and the classical sonata is the number of movements, the baroque sonata has at least four or more, in which slow and fast tempos alternate regularly. The baroque sonata is divided into two basic types:
Sonata da camera (“Chamber Sonata”) – which has a light dance character and is the predecessor of the baroque dance suite.
Sonata da chiesa (“Church sonata”) – which is usually in four movements and has a more serious character.
Depending on the size of the line-up, Baroque sonatas can be further subdivided into Solo Sonata for one instrument (usually violin) and basso continuo, and Trio Sonata for two solo instruments and basso continuo.
One of the most well-known composers of the Baroque sonata is the Italian composer Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713). Both the Church Sonatas by Corelli and the Chamber Sonatas by Corelli are still very popular with instrumentalists and listeners today.
At the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, the sonata da chiesa gradually evolved into what is known as the Neapolitan overture, where the introductory slow movement has been removed. The result was a three-movement form, with the tempo structure fast-slow-fast within each movement, which became the model not only for the classical sonata, but also for many other musical forms.
The Italian composer Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) contributed a great deal to the development of the sonata. The Sonatas by Scarlatti were usually composed in the traditional sonata form, a one-movement work with two contrasting themes.
During the Classical period, the sonata continued to develop and evolve. At that time, the term “sonata” was mainly understood to mean Piano Sonatas, or sonatas for another solo instrument with piano accompaniment. In its basic form, a classical sonata consists of three, or occasionally four movements, where the first fast movement is written in ’sonata form’, the second movement is slower, and the third movement is usually fast again, and can take various forms.
In a four-movement sonata, a dance movement in the form of a minuet or a scherzo is usually inserted before the last movement. The greatest exponents of the sonata were arguably three composers of the first Viennese school, Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart " 1972" text="Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven’s most famous sonata is without a doubt the Moonlight Sonata.
for: Cornet (E-flat), piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 1287620
for: Oboe, piano
Item no.: 186316
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
FAKSIMILE
Item no.: 469816
Heft 6: Nr. 12, Drei Sonaten
for: Violin, bassoon, basso continuo
Item no.: 241396
nach dem Dresdner Manuskript von J. G. Pisendel, Band I
for: Violine, Basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 462337
für Bratsche allein
for: Viola
Music score
Item no.: 746620
Schott Piano Classics
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 736036
for: Organ Duet
Book
Item no.: 1668670
2 Trompeten, 2 Posaunen
for: Brass Quartet & Piano (Organ)
Sheet music
Item no.: 597550
for: Alto trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1597067
ORGEL
HULLIGER, A., BEARB.
for: Piccolo trumpet, organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 599359
für Melodieinstrument in C, Bassinstrument in C und Klavier (Orgel)
for: Melody instrument (C), bass instrument (C), piano [organ]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 597164
Horn & Trombone Duet
for: F Horn, Trombone & String Orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 596641
for: Cello, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 595066
Bass Posaune & Klavier
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594967
Oboe & Klavier (Organ)
for: Oboe, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594958
Fagott & Klavier (Organ)
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595289
Flute & Klavier (Organ)
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 595264
Heft 1: Sonaten F, C, B
for: Bassoon, basso continuo
Item no.: 176841
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1597066
from "Essercizii musici"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Oboe, basso continuo
Score, Parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1687978
Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis
for: GES 3 INST BC
Score
Item no.: 301330
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 129472
Pfingstsonate
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 663622
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 332638
for: 4 horns (quartet)
Study score
Item no.: 351317
Band 4: Sonaten 7 und 8
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 419244
Heft 2: Sonaten 4-6
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 392881
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220472
for: Trumpet [cornet], piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220365
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220359
for: Viola, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220355
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220234
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220230
for: Oboe, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220220
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220219
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220218
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220128
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music, Download (mp3)
Item no.: 1220113
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1233930
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 594080
Solostimme im Bass- und Altschlüssel
for: Trombone, organ [piano]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 592419
Posaune & Klavier (Organ)
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593254
piano (organ)
Mortimer, J.G., arr.
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593193
Flute & Klavier (Organ)
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593172
Flute & Klavier (Organ)
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593145
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1277226
for: Violin, piano [organ]
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 1277110